Apostate

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Apostates are mages who are not part of the Circle of Magi and are thus considered "rebel mages."[1] There are two main types of apostates: hedge mages and general apostates, who were never part of the Circle, and rogue mages, who have fled from the Circle. The Templar Order is charged with finding apostates and either capturing or killing them. Maleficarum are a branch of apostate mages considered most dangerous.

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Once, the term only described mages who willfully left the Circle and the path the Chantry had laid out for them. However, as the AndrastianChantry is the dominant religion in Thedas, the Chantry assumes that everyone born in Thedas is a follower of that faith. Anyone who disobeys the laws of the Chantry is thus regarded as betraying their faith, and labeled apostate. The Chantry believes that apostates are at greater risk of being possessed by demons and becoming abominations.

This Chantry policy also includes the Dalishelven mages including the clan keepers who are however left alone as long as the clan remains isolated from the rest of the world. Although Saarebas are already controlled by the Qunari, the Chantry also treats them as apostates.

Mages within the Grey Wardens are technically apostates, but are granted reprieve from templar attention upon recruitment. The harboring of apostates—even blood magic practicing maleficarum—is a point of contention between the two orders, and is only tempered by its relative rarity, due to the Wardens' conservative recruitment standards. Nonetheless, the Wardens are expected to act appropriately if a mage grows beyond their control, else the templars consider the mage's immunity forfeit. Apostates who gain the favor of influential and powerful political figures may also be granted the same reprieves if the apostate's arrest would be considered too impolitic. An example of such rare occurrences would be apostate Champions of influential Free Marches cities.

No matter how a mage has become apostate, the Chantry treats them alike: Templars begin a systematic hunt to bring the apostate to justice. In almost all cases, "justice" is execution. If there is some overriding reason the mage should live, the Rite of Tranquility is employed instead.[2]

Hedge magic is a form of magical expression different than that of typical mages. Hedge mages are untrained magic-users who wield powers developed outside of conventional teaching[1]. Some of these hedge mages are not even aware of their nature.

Maleficarum actively pursue dangerous and forbidden schools of magic, including blood magic.[1] Many apostates do not practice forbidden schools of magic, but the stigma is so intense that most apostates are looked upon as maleficar.